Americas Next Best Kayaker

In a sport now measured mostly by the ever increasing height of waterfalls run by young men, kayaker Caroline Queen is after a different extreme: speed. The Darnestown, Maryland, native has been one of America’s top Olympic slalom prospects since she was discovered at a local kayaking camp at age ten. At 15, she became the youngest member of the U.S. Canoe and Kayak Team

Now 20 and still the women’s team’s youngest member, Queen has perhaps the best shot at winning America’s first Olympic gold medal in her discipline, which is traditionally dominated by Eastern Europeans. She spoke with MADISON KAHN about slalom, freestyle, and her prospects this summer.